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Scotch Drinkers

Give me some tips. I'm a beginner. I've been drinking it for about a year now. I've tried Johnny Black and Red (which I both loved). I'm now trying Cutty Sark (yeah I know, I was in Kroger late one night and it I liked the name). My goal right now is to just expand my palate of Scotch and then eventually become a serious Scotch guy and critiquing it.

Anyway, I need some more recommendations on some other brands.

How would you go about getting some variety? More single malt? I feel like I've got so many questions that I don't know where to begin.

Re: Scotch Drinkers

I believe if you are getting seriously in to scotch you are going to want to learn about single malts.

Although not a real scotch fan- I prefer the lighter and smoother taste of Irish whiskey to scotch- I've had my fair share of them and because there are so many it's pretty tough to provide any kinds of recommendations other than to just go to a bar and try some. Generally, single malts are divided into regions, like highland, lowland, island, etc., so I'd say you will want to know where a particular one comes from if you try it, so that you can start to get a better sense for the qualities and characteristics of the geographic areas. My guess is that the most familiar to us in the states are from the Highlands, like Oban, the McAllan, Glenmorangie, and the Spey Sides, like Glenfiddich, Cardhu, Craggenmore and the like. I've had all these and you're likely to find them in any bar worth its salt in single malts.

Likes:

Re: Scotch Drinkers

Originally Posted by Todd Gack

I'm now trying Cutty Sark (yeah I know, I was in Kroger late one night and it I liked the name).

Drink two fifths a day. It worked for LBJ.

The widow is gathering nettles for her children's dinner; a perfumed seigneur, delicately lounging in the Oeil de Boeuf, hath an alchemy whereby he will extract the third nettle and call it rent. ~ Carlyle

Re: Scotch Drinkers

Re: Scotch Drinkers

Originally Posted by SunDeck

I believe if you are getting seriously in to scotch you are going to want to learn about single malts.

Although not a real scotch fan- I prefer the lighter and smoother taste of Irish whiskey to scotch- I've had my fair share of them and because there are so many it's pretty tough to provide any kinds of recommendations other than to just go to a bar and try some. Generally, single malts are divided into regions, like highland, lowland, island, etc., so I'd say you will want to know where a particular one comes from if you try it, so that you can start to get a better sense for the qualities and characteristics of the geographic areas. My guess is that the most familiar to us in the states are from the Highlands, like Oban, the McAllan, Glenmorangie, and the Spey Sides, like Glenfiddich, Cardhu, Craggenmore and the like. I've had all these and you're likely to find them in any bar worth its salt in single malts.

Thanks. I'll take this into account. I guess that was one of my questions. I've been trying double malt and wanted to try some single malts. I'd like to develop a nice palette and try new things before I settle on just one brand.

Likes:

Re: Scotch Drinkers

If you want to be a serious scotch guy, I'd recommend booking a trip over to Scotland and visiting some of their scotch tours at some point. The one in Edinbourgh takes you thru some old castle and ends up in the basement in a scotch room. I'm not a scotch person, but the friend i was traveling w/ ended up purchasing the Scotch sampler, I think it was 8 half shots of different mixes of scotch.

Re: Scotch Drinkers

I read a really good novella a couple of years ago called "The Haunted Single Malt"by Marvin Kaye, about a drink that contains the essence of a massacre in its valley of origin. The single malt is served by a descendant of the victims to a descendant of the perpetrators.

So be sure to get the background of the single malt before drinking.

That's all I got.

“The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.”
― Madeleine L'Engle

Re: Scotch Drinkers

I love the ones that taste like you're eating dirt. Laphroig being a favorite. There's a nice, affordable one I had recently called "Smokey Joe" that's quite good. Caol Ila is also great when in need of a dram.

Re: Scotch Drinkers

Originally Posted by Reds4Life

Glenlivet 12 is a nice starting point in single malts. Not super rough with a lot of peet, and doesn't cost $100+ a bottle either.

Good recommendation. I actually like the bigger name scotchs if I'm going for an old one, 10+ years. The smaller ones generally don't have the space or the funds to be as patient. The bigger ones tend to be cheaper for the same reason.

You probably know this, but make sure to add a splash of water or an ice cube to your scotch. Just a little bit of water changes the chemical structure of the drink, and releases more of its flavors.

Re: Scotch Drinkers

Recommended
The Glenlevit 12 yr old - this a great scotch for the price, I don't think the 15 yr old is worth the extra $
Johnny walker black, me thinks red isn't the greatest
Glenfiddich 12 yr old is a bit lighter
Go to Ralfy.com to do some research, fun stuff

Pete Rose will be leaving the Montreal Expos to become player - manager for the Cincinnati Reds

Re: Scotch Drinkers

I agree with the need to take a tour. Even if you can't make it to Scotland, go to Kentucky and hit some distilleries. I wasn't a whiskey guy until I encountered the magical smells of the mash and the aging barrels. I suddenly developed a taste for the stuff.

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